MWD and trainer triumph in final trial

by Senior Airman Madelyn Brown
60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

10/16/2013 - Travis Air Force Base, Calif. -- The 60th Security Forces Squadron Military Working Dog unit made history Oct. 4 and 5 when they took first place overall in the Western States Police K-9 Association end of year trial in South Lake Tahoe, Calif., an unprecedented win by any other military unit.

The WSPCA sanctions and hosts multiple trials throughout the year for working dogs from various agencies to train and compete from all over the Western United States. The end of year trial is the culmination of the competitions.

"This year there were teams in competition from all across the Western U.S.," said Tech. Sgt. Chris Smith, 60th SFS MWD kennel master. "Out of all of those teams, we were the only military organization."

After taking 5th place in the Yuba County trial a month ago, the kennel master intensified training in order to place better in the final and most important trial for the year, Smith said.

"Our handlers were so motivated to compete at the highest level," he said. "We started training six days a week and created more difficult scenarios for the dogs."

The extensive training included hiding narcotics in places such as ceiling tiles, and behind kitty litter to create a scent barrier.

"The difficult training greatly contributed to the dogs' success in the trial," said Staff Sgt. Zahir Mohammed, 60th SFS K-9 handler.

Extra training days were not the only way the handlers displayed dedication to the competition. Due to the current state of the government shut down, no funding is available to train the MWDs. The handlers divvied up the cost of travel and lodging among themselves to travel to Reno, Calif. and Tahoe, Calif., with dogs in tow in order to compete.

The various law enforcement agencies resulted in more than 30 different dog teams, but one dog stood out among the pack.

At two and a half years old, Borat is the youngest dog at the Travis Air Force Base kennel. He was paired with his handler, Mohammed, about a month ago.

The Belgian malinois' young age along with the trial of learning from a new handler should have created obstacles for Borat, his handler said. When Borat swept the competition and took first place in vehicle competition and second place in building competition he was the unpredicted success of the trial.

For Mohammed, the achievement was a testament to the hard work and training of both the dogs and handlers at Travis.

"This was by far the proudest moment I've had as a handler, and even in my Air Force career," said the Sacramento, Calif. native. "I've been a dog handler for less than three years and I was competing against proficient handlers who have been at it for more than 12 years. To be able to surpass them in competition really shows what Travis military working dogs are bringing to the table."

Borat is referred to as a green dog due to his short time in the field as well as his age and experience. When the kennel master decided to pair Mohammed with Borat a month before the end of year trial, the handler had his work cut out for him.

"Borat had a lot of deficiencies which needed to be fixed," Mohammed said. "He was very difficult at first because he has a very independent or alpha demeanor. He did whatever he wanted whenever he wanted, and it was a challenge for me to get him to realize this is a two way relationship."

Eventually through time, training and effort, the two formed a strong bond between dog and handler.

"We were out training from six to eight hours a day," Mohammed said. "I ate lunch in the field with him, took breaks with him and we trained off base at different agencies together to further advance him."

The disadvantage for military handlers compared to law enforcement handlers is that military handlers are not authorized to take the dogs home with them, so all bonding time has to occur during work hours, Mohammed said.

Judges took note of the great partnership between Borat and Mohammed in their notes when scoring the teams.

Both Smith and Mohammed share the sentiment of hope that taking first overall in the competition will progress the use of Travis MWDs to broader fields.

The Air Force is known to use military working dogs as a psychological defense against bad guys, Smith said. The dogs also get called out year round for explosives detection assistance in the community. The whole team displayed that military working dogs can be the best at narcotics detection as well.

"It puts military working dogs on the map, not only are we good down range, we're good at home too and can be a resource to the community," Mohammed said.